Six Weeks, a Bus Pass, and Eight Courses at the Ritz
Well hello you.
If you’ve been wondering why things have been a little quiet on the email front, let me start with an apology. Not because McIntosh has been quiet — far from it — but because my inbox pen appears to have gone on a short, unscheduled sabbatical.
Somehow, six weeks passed without a Sunday email. Not deliberately. Not dramatically. Just… life. The kind where you put the kettle on, look up, and suddenly it’s February.
So first, thank you. And a particularly warm thank you to all the new knitters who joined the list during that time — welcome. You’ve arrived at a slightly chaotic but very sincere corner of the internet.
For those who are newer here, I’m James, the one-man band behind McIntosh. And Dr Thomas is my partner, my constant support, and the calm, sensible presence to my slightly excitable ideas.
January brought a significant birthday for Dr Thomas. A big one. A bus-pass-arriving, Elizabeth-Line-enthusiasm-unlocking kind of birthday. Retirement, however, is absolutely not on the cards. As I write this, he’s off being busy and useful and proving that turning sixty does not, in fact, come with a compulsory nap.
There was another milestone too. At the beginning of December, Dr Thomas officially became British — which felt like something that deserved marking properly. Our original plan was to go away for his birthday, but there was a small logistical issue: no passport yet. Which meant leaving the UK came with the distinct possibility of not being allowed back in.
So instead, we pivoted.
The “big trip” became a posh lunch — and by posh, I mean eight courses at the Ritz Hotel London. The sort of lunch that starts at lunchtime and politely refuses to end.
There was art.
There was theatre.
There were flames at the table (crêpes Suzette, obviously).
There were chocolate truffles that arrived long after you thought the whole thing was over.
It was joyous, slightly ridiculous, and completely memorable. And yes — it probably explains at least part of the email silence.
Behind the scenes, though, McIntosh has been quietly buzzing away. This business began a few years ago after I came through depression — and I’ll always say it plainly: knitting saved my life. One stitch became a breath, the next became a feeling, and slowly something solid returned. From that place, McIntosh grew. And it turns out I always had bigger plans than I realised at the time.
Which brings me to now.
We’re deep into preparations for Spring / Summer 2026 at McIntosh, launching next weekend. The colours are joyful, uplifting, and full of life — the kind of palette that makes you sit up a little straighter and breathe a bit deeper.
That said, Autumn / Winter is very much still with us. Sock yarns are flying out the door (clearly many of us are coping one heel at a time), and woolly weather is refusing to take the hint.
Right now, we’re seeing a big rise in baby knitting, which feels rather lovely. There’s something hopeful about those tiny garments, those careful stitches, those quiet moments of making something new.
Alongside that, we’ve welcomed:
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KnitPro Sherry gift sets (dangerously lovely)
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Opal Midnight Sparkle yarns back in stock after vanishing earlier
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And a small but precious amount of LANGYARNS CLOUD 12, our best-selling cloud of joy
None of it comes with pressure or countdown clocks. It’s simply there when you need it.
Thank you, truly, for being here. For reading, for knitting, for laughing along with us, and for understanding that sometimes life — and lunch — happens between stitches.
Be kind to yourself this week.
James
James McIntosh – the one man band that is McIntosh and Dr Thomas my sidekick!
